Spotlight on students' Fall Breaks

Author: Dina Magaril

Vermont just got sexier

Meet Mr. Vermont! Though it is Matthew McConaughey's handsome face that grazes the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine's November "Cosmo Men" issue, Middlebury Senior Thomas Hand comes in a close second, with a full page spread devoted to him in the "Bachelor Blowout" section. Though Hand did not wish to comment on his appearance in the magazine, his friend, Claire Johnson '06 pointed out the irony of the article. "Tom is so down to earth and completely not into the whole glamour thing," said Johnson. "He cares about the environment, he skies, he hikes, he even knows how to fix cars."

In fact, Hand recently participated in the BioBus project, designed to help schools integrate biodiesel into their institutions. Hand was given the responsibility of fixing up the bus the group used to travel around the United States. So how did this earthy, nature-loving guy come to have his own spread in Cosmopolitan magazine? According to friends, the article was "definitely not his idea." A friend of Hand's who works for the magazine referred him but Hand initially laughed it off. "His mother sent in the application for him and Cosmo couldn't resist," said Johnson.



Money, money, money

Megan North '08, who says she will probably major in history, left her options open this past break. She was connected to a one-day externship through CSO entitled "I Bank, A Day in the Life." She, along with the other program participants, were taken to Goldman Sachs as well as Lehman Brothers, where Middlebury alumni who worked at the companies informed the students about the world of investment banking and the various requirements of their jobs.

"They told us we don't have to be economics majors to enter the field [of investment banking] as long as we were dedicated," revealed a happy North. Among the highlights of the day was a trip to an actual trading floor, allowing the interns to see what goes on on a day-to-day basis. North was impressed with the willingness with which the alumni offered their help. By the end of the day she had phone numbers and e-mail addresses of recent Middlebury graduates who were eager to offer her advice and answer any questions that might arise. "It was a great opportunity for networking and seeing first hand what goes on in these professions," said North. "I'm glad I did it, even if only for a day."



A Boston Volunteer

Middlebury Sophomore Elyse McNiff opted for a different weekend, choosing to donate meals to those who needed them most. McNiff volunteered with "Community Servings," a non-profit organization in Boston, devoted to preparing meals for homebound people, most of whom are living with deathly illnesses. Over 90 percent of the organization's clients live below the poverty level, and most are minorities.

McNiff applied for this externship through the College saying, "It looked like a really amazing opportunity to help out for a really good cause." She spent her first day shadowing and interviewing the members of the organization, meeting with developers, other volunteers and even the head chef. McNiff also helped prepare the meals and distributed them. "It was so eye-opening," she said. "I think I got to see a whole new culture of people I had never been exposed to growing up in the suburbs." McNiff talked to many of the clients who received food from the organization and also made Christmas baskets after reading the wish lists of the clients. "I was always interested in volunteer work, but after seeing what the members do, I think I want to go into non-profit work as a possible career."